This article is based on the Strategic Pathway which can be downloaded here.
This is part 1 of a 10 part series exploring in more details how to go about building a strategic plan.
It is my belief that resilience comes from having a full well - a well being that which we all have, filled by individually specific things that make us feel good and which holds resources such as patience, tolerance, respect, joy, understanding, compassion. When your well is full, it's significantly easier to weather the storms life often brings; when it's empty, even the smallest of distractions can trigger hugely negative emotions and resulting reactions.
How full is your well right now? It can be hard to know how to tell when you first get started so try answering some of these questions:
1. How content are you feeling right now?
2. Do you feel as though there are emotions bubbling away under the surface that you're trying to ignore?
3. How much patience do you currently have?
4. How easy would you find it to shake of an 'annoying' situation - someone bumping into or cutting in front of you? Your drink being spilt; not being able to find something?
5. What thoughts about yourself are running through your head? Are they mostly negative ('I'm so stupid, if I'd not been so lazy yesterday I could have got this done and be relaxing now!') or positive ('I'm doing so great, I'm really enjoying my life - I've been so productive lately!')?
The answers to these questions will start to give you an idea of where you are right now, how full your well is and as a result, how much resilience you have.
If your well is already full, congratulations! Keep doing what you're doing! Check in every now and then to make sure it stays full.
If your well is in need of filling or even just topping up, try asking yourself some of these questions:
1. Have you had enough sleep lately?
Sleep deprivation is one of the quickest ways to empty your well and is like having a leak - it doesn't matter how much other stuff you fill your well with, it won't stay full whilst you're short on sleep.
2. What activities make your heart sing?
The ones that leave you feeling deeply satisfied and content or exhilarated and joyful. What activities leave you with a feeling of your heart being full and your lungs being capable of breathing in more than normal? Check out this post for some suggestions.
3. Do you feel recharged from spending time alone or with other people?
Once you know what things fill your well, do more of them! Bask in the knowledge that doing the things you love is actually building your resilience and is therefore crucial to your success in life, whatever form success may take for you.